TAMPA, Fla., October 22, 2025 – The University of South Florida Men's Basketball program has 13 new players, so there's plenty for Bulls fans to learn heading into Friday night's free open-door exhibition game against Saint Leo University in the Yuengling Center.
 
Here are two names that should be underlined and circled ahead of the first time fans can see the new team in action.
 
Izaiyah Nelson, a 6-foot-10, 218-pound senior forward, is an energetic, active, and vocal personality who has dynamic rebounding skills.
 
Joseph Pinion, a 6-5, 200-pound swingman who is an instant offensive threat, a stop-and-pop deadeye shooter from 3-point range.
 
Nelson and Pinion would ordinarily be noticed for their basketball skills alone. But their leadership and team-building talents are just as important. They both played key roles last season at Arkansas State, where new South Florida head man Bryan Hodgson spent two years, rolling up a 45-28 mark and establishing himself as one of the nation's elite young coaches.
 
"I think we've been able to help the other players adjust to the offense and also make sure they understand what Coach Hodgson wants,'' Pinion said. "We know him well. We know what's important to him. So I think Zai and I have helped to make everyone's transition a little bit easier.''
 
"Coach Hodgson demands a lot from you because he sees the potential in everybody,'' Nelson said. "He wants everybody to be great. He wants everyone to accomplish their dreams. He brings a great message every day. There was no question about following him to USF because he's the guy who makes me the best I can be.''
 
Hodgson said Nelson and Pinion were obviously valuable to last season's highly successful version of the Red Wolves. Arkansas State finished 25-11, while reaching the National Invitation Tournament second round, capturing the Sun Belt Conference regular-season title, and earning non-conference wins against Memphis and UAB.
 
"Those guys bring a ton of continuity,'' Hodgson said. "I know those guys. I know how to coach them. I know what makes them tick. I know what makes them get out of bed in the morning. So, I've got 13 other guys that I've got to figure out. But the presence of the two guys who came with me from Arkansas State (Nelson and Pinion), that's huge. Those guys know exactly what we're all about.''
 
Nelson and Pinion will be important Bulls.
 
Nelson, a third-team All-Sun Belt selection who averaged 10.6 points, 8.9 rebounds (40th nationally) and shot 58.6-percent from the field last season, was a big-time project when he entered college. Now he's one of the nation's most productive front-court performers.
 
He had a 30-point, 21-rebound game against Louisiana. He averaged 17.5 rebounds over his last 10 games (including 23 against South Alabama and 19 against Louisiana-Monroe).
 
Meanwhile, Pinion, a four-star prospect out of high school who played his first two seasons with the SEC's Arkansas Razorbacks, averaged 12 points per game with 36-percent shooting from 3-point range and an 88.7-percent mark from the free-throw line (which would've ranked 25th nationally, but he didn't have enough attempts to qualify).
 
"Izaiyah Nelson has unlimited energy and he's always hustling,'' said guard CJ Brown, a member of last season's American Conference All-Freshman team and one of two holdover USF players. "He's a hype guy with his energy. He's somebody you always want on your team. And Joe Pinion, just an unbelievably great shooter. The defense has to be aware of him. He can change the game in a matter of seconds.''
 
"These two guys are big pieces for USF's program,'' said De'Ante Green, the other holdover player. "I'll tell it to you like this: Joe shoots the lights out like nobody's business. And Zai is probably one of the best bigs I've ever seen playing in college. Having them both here is a huge step in the right direction.''
 
The personalities are different.
 
USF's Tristan Beckford, a four-star freshman from Canada who had originally committed to Arkansas State, said Nelson is "the loudest guy in the gym every day, really outgoing, a big leader,'' while Pinion "leads by example and has quiet confidence.''
 
Nelson and Pinion have grown even closer by becoming roommates at USF.
 
"I think we bring good skills,'' Nelson said. "I don't consider myself like other basketball players. I'm kind of different, like an athlete running around in a big body. If you come into my area trying to get a shot off, I'm going to make it difficult on you. And I'm getting that ball (rebound).''
 
"I've been a catch-and-shoot guy, but I've been working all offseason about getting it off the dribble, working off screens and handoffs, going downhill more. Zai and I both have a lot of experience, and that's what we want to bring to USF because we feel this team is capable of a really great season.''
 
The Bulls have a free and open-to-the-public exhibition inside the Yuengling Center vs. Saint Leo, this Friday at 7:00 p.m. It will be the first time fans can see this new staff and team in action. No tickets are required, doors will be open.
 
South Florida will officially open their season at home against FAMU on Monday, November 3, at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets:
Men's basketball single-game and season tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-Go-Bulls or by visiting USFBullsTix.com.
 
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About USF Men's Basketball
South Florida men's basketball named Bryan Hodgson, 37, as the program's 12th head coach on March 24, 2025. Hodgson came to Tampa from Arkansas State, where he led the program to back-to-back 20-win seasons and its first postseason appearance since 1999 in his two seasons at the helm.
 
The program, entering its 55^th season in 2025-26, most recently won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in 2023-24 and has made 13 postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournaments, nine NITs, and a CBI championship in 2019. Three former Bulls – Chucky Atkins, Charlie Bradley, and Rodenko Dobras – have had their jerseys retired and are members of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulls play their home games at the 10,400-seat Yuengling Center on the USF Tampa campus.

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